2005 Chrysler Town and Country: tire blowout or tread separation

Filed Jun 13, 2013 · Suspension · 200,100 miles · OH

Vehicle was parked in driveway on 5/22/13. Very loud bang was heard approx 7pm but the source of the bang could not be identified or even confirmed that it was vehicle-related. No abnormal physical appearance of vehicle was detected at that time. Next morning, 5/23/13, drove vehicle out of driveway and noticed a rubbing vibration in front end, then smelled rubber burning. Turned vehicle around and drove it back to driveway and parked the vehicle for a total distance driven of about 1000 feet. As vehicle was parked, clouds of billowing white smoke from right front wheelwell appeared. Inspected outside of tire. No apparent problem. Opened hood. No apparent reason for white smoke. Then boom, and right front tire blew out and tire rested on wheel rim. Called tow truck and when vehicle was lifted on the tow mechanism, the problem was evident. The right front coil spring had broken in half and uncoiled itself. The spring had uncoiled itself into the inside of the tire and was responsible for the rubbing vibration, burning rubber smell and smoke, and the blowout. This failure could have easily have happened while driving which would have resulted in a sudden blowout and likely loss of control of the vehicle. The last 25 miles driven prior to the coil spring failure were freeway miles, and the failure could have happened an hour earlier on 5/22/13 at 60 to 70 MPH with the likely outcome that the vehicle would have become uncontrollable and run off the road and rolled over. Dealer said that in his 30 years, he has not heard of this happening. Failed parts have been retained by owner. Pictures are available if requested.

Filed May 1, 2012 · Tires · 133,000 miles · CA

Michelin hydro edge dot b9odhaex radial xse 215/65 r16 98t sold by sears, installed by sears, like new tire exploded nearly causing an accident. They say it was either of two reasons a nail or tire sensor was loose. There was no nail in tire. I called them on it and took pictures so they are now blaming the sensor. They can't keep their story straight. They installed the tires and they refuse to accept replacement responsibility for the tire and expect me to pay 130.00 to replace it. They say I must have refused 60.00 charge for sensor adjustment even though when I took my car to them I had the vehicle aligned and bought top of the line tires. Why would I refuse a 60.00 charge to adjust sensors if by not doing so could make the tires explode? I have done nothing wrong. These tires were extremely well maintained because I am a bounty hunter and travel across the country capturing fugitives. I check the air on my tires in different weather conditions and in different altitudes. My tires are my legs, I explained this to them. The last thing I need is to be stranded in the az desert with a flat. I have been without my van for two days unable to work because sears, northridge, ca is trying to decide who is responsible for this. It's not me. I would also like to know why sears does not think it's their job to explain to people that not having the sensors adjusted can cause death or injury. Their excuse was only that they couldn't force people to buy the 60.00 service when I asked them why they don't tell people. I also asked them how many people do they think know that not adjusting the tire sensors can cause them to explode they replied very few. They know it's dangerous but they don't care? Something is extremely wrong here. I couldn't find any info on the receipt about the sensor adjustment but I also couldn't find what kind of tire I bought on the receipt either. I had to check on the vehicle.

Filed Dec 1, 2011 · Tires · FL · 1 injury

2005 chrysler town & country. Consumer writes to express discontent with toyo touring tires *tgw the consumer stated in jan 2011, he purchased two toyo tires from his local tire dealer. However, one of the tires suffered a severe blow out. The tire was replaced. However, the replacement tire suffered tread separation and blew out. The consumer replaced the tire with another brand. While driving for the third time, the last toyo tire blew out, which caused the consumer to run off the road and into a ditch. The consumer suffered a lower back injury. The consumer stated the two tires he originally purchased and the replacement tire had tread separation and blew out.

Filed Apr 12, 2010 · Tires · 148,290 miles · GA

My family and I experience a near fatal accident when a douglas/goodyear xtra trac tire literally exploded off of the rim of our car. The result was there was nothing left of the tire except for a very small piece of rubber on either side of the rim. (ihave pictures of the blown tire). I returned to walmart where I purchased this tire. At first the store looked at what was left of the tire and said they couldn't do anything. Then when I informed them that I purchased this tire from them at that store, a salesperson chuckled and remarked was it an xtra trac tire I said yes. Another mechanic looked at it and said they would sell me another xtra trac tire. I declined the offer and took by business elsewhere. This was the third tire (douglas/goodyear tire) that blew. In each previous instance the tire shredded. In this instance the tire exploded. In each instance the tire had not reached the warranted mileage that the tire was suppose to be good for. What is disturbing is that walmart is still selling this defective tire to the general public with this known defect.

Filed Dec 17, 2006 · Tires · GA

Have owned a 2005 chrysler t&c for 7 months since may 2006 and the bridgestone turanza el42 tires have experienced abnormal outside edge tire wear as well as severe abnormal vibration when accelerating. Vibration is felt in gas pedal, seat and steering wheel. Had tires rotated/balanced/alignment check and 5 separate service garages look at vibration issue but no solution. Chrysler dealer told me back in july 2006 they did not feel the vibration but every other person that has driven vehicle feels the abnormal vibration and this is a serious safety issue. Tires also have had "indentations/lines" in all tires since I bought the vehicle new with less than 200 miles on it. I now have 8,200 miles on vehicle and am concerned about reports of dozens of other complaints about tire failure/blow out as valid registered complaints. I would like to replace these tires with another brand but not at my expense since it should be a tire manufacturer safety issue. Tire size is 215/65r16 even though the pull down box did not let me select my correct size.

Filed Oct 27, 2005 · Tires · 2,000 miles · FL · 1 injury

Dt: the consumer stated vehicle had two separate blow outs on new original equipment tires. The right rear tire exploded without any road hazard or prior problems. The spare tire was located underneath the vehicle and there was some difficulty in retrieving the spare due to its location, ultimately resulting in an injury to the contact's arm by the exhaust. She drove the vehicle on a spare to a truck repair shop. The repair shop could not determine why this problem occurred. About a week later a second blowout occurred while on the highway with the left rear tire. She noted there was a dusty powdery residue in each of the tires after the blowout. The spare was again used until she was able to purchase another tire. The tire is a bridgestone transmission with a tire line size p215/65/r16. *ak updated 1129/05.